Aptos football player Brandon Pierce chosen to compete in Blue-Grey All-American Bowl

Heading into his senior year without a football scholarship, Aptos High's Brandon Pierce set out to drum up some interest.

"I was just trying to get my name out there," Pierce said of participating in numerous combines this offseason.

The Mariners' 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back and outside linebacker hasn't landed an offer yet, but when it comes to getting his name out there, Pierce has succeeded. On Monday, he was selected to participate in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Florida.

"I'm really excited," Pierce said. "It's been a great experience so far."

Pierce reports to Florida on Jan. 8 for the first of two practices. The game is Jan. 10 at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He'll likely play at defensive back when on defense.

The game will stream live on FOX Sports' Florida Prep Zone (foxsports.com/florida/prepzone) and air tape-delayed on FOX College Sports. The air date and time is to be announced.

Pierce posted modest numbers last season in helping the Mariners win their third straight Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title and first Central Coast Section title since 2003.

After transferring from Sonora High to Aptos after his sophomore year, he was forced to sit out the first half of his junior season by the CCS. He finished with four rushing touchdowns in league play and made some big plays on defense during the postseason, including a key fumble recovery against Willow Glen in the CCS D-III semifinals.

He received all-SCCAL honorable mention honors after the season.

"I went into the combines really confident," Pierce said. "There were a lot of big kids. I had to tell myself, 'I'm a big kid, too.' I felt like I belonged out there. I wasn't intimidated. I had to be confident."

Pierce has spent much of the offseason participating in morning workouts with the Mariners and he has also worked out in his free time at home.

His tireless efforts paid dividends. After posting impressive results at Blue-Grey's NorCal Combine in Napa in March — including a 9-foot, 10-inch broad jump, 37-inch vertical and 4.34-second shuttle run — he was extended an invitation to the organization's West Super Combine in San Mateo on July 13.

"Based on conversations with our coaching staff of NFL veterans, the consensus is that Brandon opened eyes during the Regional Combine, as well as the Super Combine, and has some tools to work with," Blue-Grey media director Sean Ceglinsky wrote in a text. "Seemingly the only thing that stands between him and playing at the next level is a bit more polishing. By the time his experience is done with Blue-Grey Football and the All-American Bowl, our hope is to deliver a finished product to college coaches."

Monday, Pierce received his official invitation to the All-American Bowl in the mail.

"I've been around a long time and I've never had a kid play in a national game," said Mariners coach Randy Blankenship, who is in his 40th season coaching high school football. "I told him he should be really proud. Any time you get to a national event, it's a prestigious thing. People are going to know who he is."

Pierce competed at a Nike SPARQ Combine at Laney College in May and his vertical (37-2) was the 11th best in a field of 1,342 tested athletes, putting him in the 99th percentile. He finished with an 83.22 SPARQ rating — 43rd best in the field.

"To jump 37 inches in high school, that's more than eating protein bars," said Blue-Grey defensive backs coach Mark McMillian, a former NFLer. "That's a lot of time in the weight room and training."

Pierce feels several members on Aptos' team — which includes returning linebacker Dante Gomez, the SCCAL's 2013 Junior of the Year, and ball-hawking cornerback Dalton Weitzel, the SCCAL's Defensive Player of the Year — are talented enough to be in the All-American Bowl. That said, Pierce, the only Mariner to attend the combines, said the reception he received from teammates during morning workouts was extremely gratifying.

"They were so happy for me," Pierce said. "That's one thing about this team. We have such a great bond."

It's the reason he's focused on the upcoming season and not the All-American Bowl.

"It's pretty easy," he said of not looking ahead. "Our football season is real important to me. We want to bring back SCCAL and CCS titles — and even state. That's the goal. You want to shoot for the best."